UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK, with Canada, Australia, and NZ, sanctioned Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich over their inflammatory Gaza/ West Bank remarks.
As reported by The Guardian, Britain, alongside other global allies, has enforced sanctions against two hard-right officials in response to “Monstrous” comments concerning Gaza. The statements involved plans to obliterate the territory and employ forces to gain control over additional West Bank settlements.
Which countries are banning Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich?
The UK, aligning with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other nations, has initiated joint proceedings to freeze the assets of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The United States is not projected to join this initiative.
What sanctions announcements are usually kept secret to prevent?
Sanctions declarations are usually withheld from public knowledge because giving warning permits those subject to them to relocate their wealth from the relevant jurisdictions.
For over a year, British ministers have had the authority to impose sanctions on the two officials. However, they refrained from acting just two weeks ago, as securing sufficient global support required additional diplomatic work.
What did Smotrich say about Gaza aid, destruction, and justifiable deaths?
Bezalel Smotrich has backed the enlargement of West Bank settlements and actively opposed aid deliveries to Gaza, stating last month his intention to allow zero food supplies, not even “a single grain of wheat,” into the war-torn area.
He stated on 6 May that
“Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to … the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries”.
Germany, a close ally of Israel, condemned remarks made by Smotrich last year, suggesting that the potential deaths of 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from starvation could be considered justifiable.
He said,
“We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned.”
What Ben Gvir did at al-Aqsa and has called for regarding Gaza?
On May 26, Ben Gvir forcibly entered the al-Aqsa mosque, advocating for the Islamic world’s third holiest site to be transformed into a synagogue. He has persistently called for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.
Last year he said,
“We must encourage emigration, encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza.”
What David Lammy described Smotrich’s comments as and what actions he took?
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Smotrich’s comments as monstrous and repugnant in Parliament last month, yet he refrained from imposing sanctions on the two officials.
He targeted a minor group of settlers with sanctions and stated that there would be no continuation of talks aimed at expanding the trade deal with Israel.
Gaza-Israel war
Casualties & human cost
- Palestinians killed in Gaza: Over 52,000–70,000+ (including ~14,000 missing/presumed dead)
- Children killed: ~13,300+
- Women killed: ~9,000+
- Israelis killed: ~1,974 (including 1,011 security forces and 963 civilians)
- October 7, 2023, Hamas attack: ~1,200 killed, 251 taken hostage
- Hostages remaining in Gaza (Jan 2025): 101 (37 believed dead)
Destruction & displacement
- Gaza buildings damaged/destroyed: ~92% of homes, 95% of schools, 84% of hospitals
- Displaced Palestinians: ~1.9 million (90% of Gaza’s population)
- Debris in Gaza: 40+ million tonnes—could take a decade to clear
Humanitarian crisis
- Famine risk: 96% of children under 2 and women face acute malnutrition
- Water access: <5 litres per person/day (WHO minimum: 15L)
- Aid worker deaths: 318+ killed
Military & political impact
- Israeli military control: ~50% of Gaza as of June 2025
- ICC arrest warrants: Issued for Netanyahu, Gallant (Israel) and Hamas leaders
- ICJ ruling (2024): Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories deemed illegal